Violin and cello concerts

Sergei Panov is a violinist, educator, and author based in New Jersey. He grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, and emigrated to the United States with his family at age 12. His mother is a piano teacher and his father builds musical instruments; music and teaching have been central to his work since.

He earned a Bachelor of Music in violin performance at Temple University under the late Helen Kwalwasser and served as concertmaster of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra under the late Joseph Primavera. He has presented on music education at the New Jersey Music Educators Association Conferences and at Rowan University, serves as manager of the Central Jersey Region Orchestra, and has led New Jersey All-State Violin Sectionals. He currently teaches 5th grade orchestra at Montgomery Lower Middle School in New Jersey.

Alex Nelson is an educator and performing cellist based in New Jersey. A passionate music educator, Nelson serves as an orchestra director at Hammarskjold Upper Elementary School in the East Brunswick School District. Nelson earned his Bachelor of Music degrees in both Cello Performance and Music Education from Rutgers University, where he studied with Jonathan Spitz. During his time at Rutgers, Nelson won the Concerto Competition and performed the Elgar Cello Concerto with orchestra.

In the spring of 2023, Nelson co-authored and released the cello method book series, “Learn Cello Fast”, with Sergei Panov. Nelson enjoys an active freelance career in the tri-state area as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. In 2024, Nelson performed with the Cantabile Chamber Chorale in the world premiere of Bruce Lazarus’ Starsongs. Nelson has served as both Assistant Principal and Principal cellist of the East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra, section cellist with the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra, and the Simply Strings ensemble.

In 2025, Nelson began a new adventure as director and performer for, “An Afternoon of Strings” chamber music benefit recital featuring orchestra colleagues and family musicians. The recital benefits students in the East Brunswick School District entering the field of education, and the East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra.